Overseas travel

**Seymour Butts** · 18-07-17, 05:42 PM

I haven't travelled overseas (except on business) for some years now.
In August my wife and I are travelling to Thailand - Phuket (Karon Beach) to be exact.
Like every one we will have some clothes made we'll buy some jewelery and I'm also hoping to get a leather jacket and some descent hand made boots made, and again like most others we'll buy the market T Shirts and other tourist trap crap as well but I was also considering purchasing for my two son's in law a couple of as good a quality that I can find - replica watches.

In regard to the replica watches I've heard recently stories of customs clamping down on various designer breaches.

Does any one one know the current Australian customs attitude to these items.
I figured I would just wear one back and just have the other in luggage.

Thanks in anticipation
cheers

**Seymour Butts** · 18-07-17, 08:03 PM

Ohhh sorry - One more question.
SIM cards in the past have never been a problem, I simply took my work phone and the company paid for everything, including on occasion some very large excess data costs.

Whats the go with phones when travelling with your personal phones - are these overseas data plans offered by Optus and Vodaphone worth buy ($5 to $10 dollars per day) or is it just as easy to purchase a SIM Overseas

Cheers

**ol' boy** · 18-07-17, 09:22 PM

You will not have any issues with customs, unless you are found to be bringing in 1000 T-shirts.
As for SIM, just get a local SIM.

Plenty have Unlimited Data and Calls for bugger all.
If you aren't travelling to isolated areas of the country, the cheaper SIM deals will work for you.

**Seymour Butts** · 18-07-17, 09:29 PM

Nah mate - maybe a dozen t shirts

Thanks

**ol' boy** · 18-07-17, 09:39 PM

When you land in Phucket, there is a number a Pre Paid SIM outlets on your way out.
Just after all the cigarettes and money transfers.

They will require an imprint of your passport, but they will do everything for you on the spot.
Install the new sim, activate it, test it and off you go.

Get one the lasts your duration, unless you are fluent in Thai and can read the SMS's you'll be sent

**Seymour Butts** · 18-07-17, 10:17 PM

Thanks mate, Understanding won't really be a problem - I'm using my (own??) if thats the way to say it - driver.
A driver I've employed on a weekly basis on my business trips in the past. I trust him implicitly.
Its amazing the stuff I never looked at in the past, I've probably been in and out of Phuket half a dozen times and have never really noticed what was in the airport ??
Maree keeps asking me, "Whats it like, whats this and whats that........." and I really can't tell her, every time I've been over it's hit the tarmac, straight into a mini van and out to the cashew / pineapple and coffee plantations, Indeed I've never stayed in Phuket City or Patong.

**ol' boy** · 18-07-17, 10:45 PM

Data has got to be cheap over there mate, Vietnam, Thailand, Indo, where ever, you see 5 year olds streaming cartoons and Live TV on smart phones and tablets while their parents work.
Ive always been able to Stream Foxtel or whatever i choose with the Pre Paid deals, no probs.

It's only Australia that charge you your first born per Mb